Paul John Raven, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D., F.L.S

Paul Raven

Overview:

I have more than 30 years of expertise and experience in freshwater ecological research and its application for environmental protection and nature conservation in Britain and elsewhere in Europe. I have published widely and my main area of interest continues to be studying the links between fluvial geomorphology and river ecology.

Education:

Reading University B.Sc Zoology (1975);

Aberdeen University M.Sc Ecology (1977);

University College London, Ph.D (1985).

Research in freshwater ecology: My Ph.D was a study of the ecological effects of river engineering works. I then did a 2-year post-doctoral research project studying the impact of pesticide pollution on river ecology (Polytechnic of Central London, 1985-87). I also carried out aquatic macrophyte surveys of lakes and streams in the UK Acid Waters Monitoring Network (1985-91).

Professional work in Freshwater Ecology and Nature Conservation:

I was the freshwater specialist in Countryside and Wildlife Branch at the Department of Environment for Northern Ireland (1987-91), and became National Conservation Officer at the National Rivers Authority in 1991. I was appointed Head of Conservation, and subsequently Head of Conservation and Ecology at the Environment Agency (1996-2011) during which time I was ecology lead for implementation of the Water Framework Directive in England and Wales. I took early retirement from the Agency in June 2011.

Honorary Positions:

I was an FBA Council Member (2002-6), am a serving Council member of the British Ecological Society (2011-15), and was on the editorial Board of the journal Aquatic Conservation during 1998-2010.

Key achievement in Freshwater Ecology:

I led development of River Habitat Survey, which was used for the first ever national assessment of river habitat quality in Britain.

Publications:

Sole author

1986: The size of minnow prey in the diet of young Kingfishers Alcedo atthis. Bird Study, 33, 6-11.

1986: Changes in the breeding bird population of a small clay river following flood alleviation works. Bird Study 33, 24-35.

1986: Changes of in-channel vegetation following two-stage channel construction on a small rural clay river. Journal of Applied Ecology, 23,333-345.